Seeing the Works of God Through Disability at 12:56 PM

John 9:1-3 says, “As he passed by, he saw a man blind from birth. And his disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” Jesus answered, “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him." 

Have you ever wondered why there is disability?  I think this passage makes it abundantly clear.  Why would anyone ever think that disability is punishment for sin when Jesus tells us right here!  So “the works of God might be displayed.” 

Working in disability ministry I get a front row seat to seeing Gods works.  I think the parent of a Barnabas Prep (barnabasprep.com) student has the best perspective I have heard in a long time.  This parent told me that, “I believe that Jake was put on this earth as a missionary from God.  He was sent here to show our family what true joy is.”  And he’s right!  Jake is a joy to everyone he comes in contact with.

Are you a parent of a child with a disability?  Brother or sister?  What works of God are being displayed in your loved one?  Do you have the ability, wisdom and insight to see what those works are?  At Camp Barnabas (campbarnabas.org) we spend our summers celebrating what God wants to show the world through people with disabilities.  If you don’t understand, come see for yourself!  Camp Barnabas will open your eyes.  We have many opportunities for you to come be a part of our summer-long celebration.  If you have a disability, come on!  We want to show you the amazing blessings God has given you to effect the world!  If you are a parent of someone with a disability, give your child an amazing opportunity.  We’ll show your kiddo the best week of their life while you find some rest.

-Camp Barnabas is a Christian summer camp for those with physical, developmental, or intellectual disabilities.  Each camper gets to have a summer camp experience with others who have like disabilities.  Where the world says no, Camp Barnabas says YES.  For more information go to www.campbarnabas.org.

- Barnabas Prep is a collegiate-type program for post-high school students with physical, developmental, or intellectual disabilities.  Students live in dorms with other students on campus while spending the year learning life skills, job skills, and discipleship.  Barnabas Prep is in existence to challenge and enable students to live life to their fullest ability.  For more information go to www.barnabasprep.com.  

Advantages of being adopted at 12:17 AM

As you may know, many of our campers are adopted out of the foster system.  These loving families that adopt know the day-to-day difficulties they are getting into.  It makes me think of how intentional the parent’s love is for their children. Don’t get me wrong, bearing a child with special needs must take an immense amount of love and patience…but that is the hand they were dealt, not a choice that was made.  Having a child with extreme issues (developmental, physical, emotional) and being an adoptive parent that looks past that to the person that just needs love…it just amazes me. 

What we don’t realize is that our Heavenly Father does the same for us.  Romans 1:16 says this: “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile.”  The gift of the gospel and salvation is freely given to God’s natural born children and also to us; his adopted, afflicted children that have so many issues no parent should want to have us.  Praise God for adoptive parents…here on earth that take care of our precious campers and in heaven that take care of us.